it really depends on what you're going for. i have both and i find myself playing the geddy more. i have a badass II on the jag as well, fyi. i like the geddy better bc it's full scale mostly. when i bought them they were both really noisy, so i ended up having to shield both of them. i get lots of complements on looks and tone for both. i don't 'grind' at all, but i do use overdrive via either a tone hammer or sansamp bddi and i like the way the geddy handles it better as well. i rarely ever use the active mode on the jag. i'm thinking about throwing some humbuckers in it, and rewiring it so the rollers are pickup volumes and the on/off switches are coil taps. i think that will make me play the jag way more.
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Geddy vs Jaguar
- Thread starter DrPepper09
- Start date
I prefer the Geddy's neck but having owned both, I say Jag. I put a BAII on mine and there is simply no fair comparison tonally between the two.
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Verrrry nice! It's the perfect balance between stock and full-on black.
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Verrrry nice! It's the perfect balance between stock and full-on black.
I've been on a Jag kick lately, but if you go for the Jaguar, rip out the preamp and run it as a passive bass. Basically set it up as a Jazz Bass with a different body. Better tone, less hassles.
Jag vote, i strongly dislike the Geddy
I wanted to like it but didnt. So i spent another £100 and got a Marcus Miller, best decision i ever made
I wanted to like it but didnt. So i spent another £100 and got a Marcus Miller, best decision i ever made
For me, I've owned a Jaguar for something like 2 years and probably played at least 200 "gigs" with it over that time. By gig I mean something live in front of people. It was my break-out bass. I played bass for 3-4 years before it but this one brought me to new heights.
So, addressing some of the negatives of posters and what I believe to be positives:
1). It doesn't need to be modded to play with. I think I saw that somewhere. Although, I wish my low E was more defined but a set-up every once in a while clears alot of it up. I've been meaning to replace the nut and bridge though because I feel like they are the weaknesses. And at $500 on mf right now, it is BY FAR the best deal available, period. Put $250 in mods on it and you're in insane tonal territory and still have put out less than a Geddy.
2). The Active/Passive switches are amazing. Granted, you'll have to deal with single-coil buzzing...but you can suck it up if you have a surge protector and a good amp. I just recently acquired an Ampeg B-25 and the polarity switch on that kills the buzz almost all the way. Not to mention you can pay a little to clean it up altogether.
3). The pickups DO NOT sound tinny. Period. I'll use both rounds and flats on mine and love the tone of each.
4.) Many sick nasty colors to choose from. The Geddys are disappointing to me because I think black is the dullest color you can get, IMHO. Plus, white pearl block binding is sexier anyways. Red, Olympic White, Black, Sunburst...I want them all! (even the black....even though its black its a Jag)
5.) The neck is super thin so if you have small hands (like me) it makes your life so simple and beautiful.
Both basses are awesome deals but right now I'd say the best deal is the Jag at the price and the style it gives you. I just picked up a '77 Rick and a '74 Precision but I highly doubt either will ever get a chance to replace my Jag.
ps - one more thing that is great about the Jag: when you play live, you don't have to turn down your volume in between songs. You just hit the three pickup switches and it cuts the volume! Such a useful tool. Nothing compares.
So, addressing some of the negatives of posters and what I believe to be positives:
1). It doesn't need to be modded to play with. I think I saw that somewhere. Although, I wish my low E was more defined but a set-up every once in a while clears alot of it up. I've been meaning to replace the nut and bridge though because I feel like they are the weaknesses. And at $500 on mf right now, it is BY FAR the best deal available, period. Put $250 in mods on it and you're in insane tonal territory and still have put out less than a Geddy.
2). The Active/Passive switches are amazing. Granted, you'll have to deal with single-coil buzzing...but you can suck it up if you have a surge protector and a good amp. I just recently acquired an Ampeg B-25 and the polarity switch on that kills the buzz almost all the way. Not to mention you can pay a little to clean it up altogether.
3). The pickups DO NOT sound tinny. Period. I'll use both rounds and flats on mine and love the tone of each.
4.) Many sick nasty colors to choose from. The Geddys are disappointing to me because I think black is the dullest color you can get, IMHO. Plus, white pearl block binding is sexier anyways. Red, Olympic White, Black, Sunburst...I want them all! (even the black....even though its black its a Jag)
5.) The neck is super thin so if you have small hands (like me) it makes your life so simple and beautiful.
Both basses are awesome deals but right now I'd say the best deal is the Jag at the price and the style it gives you. I just picked up a '77 Rick and a '74 Precision but I highly doubt either will ever get a chance to replace my Jag.
ps - one more thing that is great about the Jag: when you play live, you don't have to turn down your volume in between songs. You just hit the three pickup switches and it cuts the volume! Such a useful tool. Nothing compares.
This is good to hear. I actually started a Word document listing all the complaints, fixes, and mods people said they had to do with their Jaguars. I usually like to play a bass stock until something really bugs me badly, then fix it. I hope I'm as happy with my stock Jag as you are.
let's be fair and not forget that justin also rocks 2 jags! his are wired completely passive which is an option for you. i'm sure you could sell the preamp as well if you wanted. i'm a jazz bass guy, but if i were choosing out of the two, i'd go jag. especially with the new low price of the jag!
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I vote for the Jag.
Possibly because I have a 70s Jazz and a 08 AM Standard.
I tried both at GC last year.
The Geddy was just ok, didnt feel or sound better than a couple of the MIMs or the Squire Vintage Modified which sounded a lot better.
The build quality on the Geddy is excellent.
The Jag (in Red) also just sounded ok but is different enough looking to warrant a second try. The active circuit didnt turn me off, actually just sounded more like a clean boost than most of the actives Ive tried. I liked the series/parallel switch, but that can be added if wanted.
Id change the bridge to either a Gotoh 201 or a Hipshot A.
The Hipshot can adjust the spacing and has the quick load feature which makes string changing a bit faster. Not an issue if you use TI flats, but nice if you stick to round wounds.
The Jag does look cool, although Fender should have made Jaguar or Jazz master style pickups for it.
On either I swap out the tiny pots and put in a Switchcraft jack.
MM
BTW I broke down and ordered a Jag in sunburst, it should be here tomorrow.
Possibly because I have a 70s Jazz and a 08 AM Standard.
I tried both at GC last year.
The Geddy was just ok, didnt feel or sound better than a couple of the MIMs or the Squire Vintage Modified which sounded a lot better.
The build quality on the Geddy is excellent.
The Jag (in Red) also just sounded ok but is different enough looking to warrant a second try. The active circuit didnt turn me off, actually just sounded more like a clean boost than most of the actives Ive tried. I liked the series/parallel switch, but that can be added if wanted.
Id change the bridge to either a Gotoh 201 or a Hipshot A.
The Hipshot can adjust the spacing and has the quick load feature which makes string changing a bit faster. Not an issue if you use TI flats, but nice if you stick to round wounds.
The Jag does look cool, although Fender should have made Jaguar or Jazz master style pickups for it.
On either I swap out the tiny pots and put in a Switchcraft jack.
MM
BTW I broke down and ordered a Jag in sunburst, it should be here tomorrow.
There's something to be said about a guy who probably makes tons of money playing bass and is able to afford probably anything, but he sticks to CIJ reissues! Probably more to be said about the basses! I love it!
And how about that Jag w/ the P pickups! That color too! That just oozes cool!
I wish that could be said...however, both of those basses as well as his geddy are Fender Custom Shop basses.
I've got a Geddy, had a Jag, but sold it.
Basically, I kept comparing the two, and my Ged (a 2009 purchase) far outweighed the Jag on every level.
The jag looked great, but just lacked the certain magic which the Ged seems to have.
Go Ged!
Basically, I kept comparing the two, and my Ged (a 2009 purchase) far outweighed the Jag on every level.
The jag looked great, but just lacked the certain magic which the Ged seems to have.
Go Ged!
I'm mainly a G&L guy (I have eleven of them!), but I also have two Jags. I love those basses, they get as much play as the G&L's. And they are stock, I haven't done a thing to them except change the strings. Love those basses!
The jag preamp is totally true bypassed.
No need to rip it out. Just switch it off.
